Oil and Gas Infrastructure

HC Deb 10 July 2002 vol 388 cc939-40W

Lawrie Quinn

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her powers to settle disputes over access between oil and gas infrastructure owners and potential third party users. [69676]

Mr. Wilson

Following extensive consultation through the Department's consultation 'Oil and Gas Infrastructure: Guidance on Applications for resolution of Disputes over Third Party Access', the Department has, today, issued guidance to clarify how the Secretary of State would use long standing powers in the Petroleum Act 1998, Pipe-lines Act 1962 and the Gas Act 1995. This Guidance sets out how the Department would handle applications and the principles that would be applied in making a determination.

We have also published today a summary of responses to the consultation. Copies of both documents have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.